The California Fish and Game Commission adopted the 2013-2014 waterfowl and upland game bird hunting regulations on Aug. 7. Possession limits were increased from double to triple the daily bag limit for waterfowl, band-tailed pigeon, doves, snipe, pheasant, quail, sooty/ruffed grouse and chukar. A new late season hunt for white-fronted geese and white geese was established in the Northeastern Zone, as well as a new early archery season for pheasants statewide.

Additionally, in response to the increasing invasion of Eurasian collared-doves, the Commission authorized year-round hunting in Imperial County (where the species is most abundant), beginning Sept. 1st, 2013.

Specific changes are as follows:

Ducks Seasons

• The Balance of State and Southern California zones will be open from Oct. 19, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014. Scaup season will be open from Nov. 2, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014.

• The Northeastern Zone will be open from Oct. 5, 2013 through Jan. 17, 2014. Scaup season will be open from Oct. 5, 2013 through Dec. 29, 2013.

• The Southern San Joaquin Valley Zone will be open from Oct. 5, 2013 through Oct. 20, 2013 and from Nov. 2, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014. Scaup season will be open from Nov. 2, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014.

• The Colorado River Zone will be open from Oct. 18, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014. Scaup season will be open from Nov. 2, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014.

Bag Limits

• 7 ducks per day, which includes no more than 2 hen mallards (or Mexican-like ducks in the Colorado River Zone), 2 pintail, 2 canvasback, 2 redheads and 3 scaup (during the 86-day season).

Geese Seasons

• The Balance of State, Southern California and Southern San Joaquin Valley zones will be open from Oct. 19, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014.

-Early Canada geese season (Balance of State Zone) will be open from Sept. 28, 2013 through Oct. 2, 2013.

-Late white-fronted and white geese season (Balance of State Zone) will be open from Feb. 15, 2014 through Feb. 19, 2014.

• Northeastern Zone dark geese season will be open from Oct. 5, 2013 through Jan. 12, 2014 and white geese season will be open from Nov. 1, 2013 through Jan. 12, 2014.

-Late white geese season will be open from Feb. 7, 2014 through Mar. 10, 2014.

-Late white-fronted geese season will be open from Mar. 6, 2014 through Mar. 10, 2014.

• The Colorado River Zone will be open from Oct. 18, 2013 through Jan. 26, 2014.

Bag Limits

• 10 total geese per day, which may include 10 white geese.

• 6 dark geese, with no more than 2 large Canada geese in the Northeastern Zone; 3 dark geese in the Southern California and Colorado River zones.

Upland Game

• Early archery pheasant season will be open from Oct. 12, 2013 through Nov. 3, 2013. Archery hunting for pheasants is not allowed on Type A and B Wildlife Areas.

• Eurasian collared-dove will be open year-round in Imperial County after Sept. 1. Existing seasons re-main in effect for the rest of the state.

• Sage-grouse hunting permits were authorized in North Mono (30) and South Mono (25) zones. No permits were authorized for either Lassen Zone following large-scale habitat loss resulting from the 2012 Rush Fire.

A summary of the regulations can be found online at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations. Please note that these regulations have not yet been approved by the Office of Administrative Law, and may be subject to change.

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